Request new SSN card on I-485/I-765?

[Dashinka 24,653]

31 minutes ago, hplusj said:

I'm very confused by which direction this thread has taken.

 

I will assume that it is best procedure to request a new card on our paperwork.  Of course we do not have have the conditional card in hand yet, but the whole point of this discussion is to plan for contingencies.  I encourage people to entertain the hypothetical not just for our personal journey, but for anyone who comes across this portion of their AOS planning in a similar vein, and is curious what to put.

 

Thank you for your answers.

Yes, check the box and hopefully the system works as it should.

[M plus D 57]

Sadly, you aren't really updated by the SSA or USCIS about when you are getting the new Social Security Card that you requested through the form(s).

Additionally, sometimes USCIS doesn't request the new card for you at all, meaning you won't ever get a new card through the option on the form.

 

Because of the two reasons above, you could easily wait for a card that never arrives, thus having your time wasted.

Also, if you at one point do decide that the wait has been enough, you might decide to just request it yourself anyway at the SSA. However, if then suddenly the USCIS requested card does decide to show up eventually, it means you had three cards produced in a short time-frame:

1. Your original, restricted card
2. Your self-requested. unrestricted replacement card
3. Your USCIS-requested. unrestricted replacement card

And you are only allowed to have three Social Security cards assigned to you in a year (and 10 in your lifetime), so that is kind of a waste too.

 

Also, even worse, if you request one through USCIS, it can happen that you get a new, second Social Security number assigned. That's alledgedly also a nightmare scenario...

 

I'd recommend just keeping it in your own control and not requesting it on the forms. Then just go to a SSA once you have GC in hand.

These days, most people have GC in hand 2 weeks after approval. Then the new Social Security card is another 2 weeks. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a long time.

 

 

[hplusj 142]

5 hours ago, M plus D said:

Sadly, you aren't really updated by the SSA or USCIS about when you are getting the new Social Security Card that you requested through the form(s).

Additionally, sometimes USCIS doesn't request the new card for you at all, meaning you won't ever get a new card through the option on the form.

 

Because of the two reasons above, you could easily wait for a card that never arrives, thus having your time wasted.

Also, if you at one point do decide that the wait has been enough, you might decide to just request it yourself anyway at the SSA. However, if then suddenly the USCIS requested card does decide to show up eventually, it means you had three cards produced in a short time-frame:

1. Your original, restricted card
2. Your self-requested. unrestricted replacement card
3. Your USCIS-requested. unrestricted replacement card

And you are only allowed to have three Social Security cards assigned to you in a year (and 10 in your lifetime), so that is kind of a waste too.

 

Also, even worse, if you request one through USCIS, it can happen that you get a new, second Social Security number assigned. That's alledgedly also a nightmare scenario...

 

I'd recommend just keeping it in your own control and not requesting it on the forms. Then just go to a SSA once you have GC in hand.

These days, most people have GC in hand 2 weeks after approval. Then the new Social Security card is another 2 weeks. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a long time.

 

 

I don't think you understand my query, we did not miss the window for applying for his social security card (completed today, he arrived Friday).  Additionally, I caution you against sharing misinformation on here; as a K1 visa holder, we will not be receiving my fiance's green card in two weeks.  The circumstances you present, aren't relevant to our visa journey.

 

We simply wanted to know if it was preferable to request a SSN on the I-485, or not.

 

If you have first-hand experience with any of these hypothetical "nightmare scenarios", I welcome you to share them.  For now, I'll trust the advice of seasoned veterans on these forums, who've seen this process addressed repeatedly.  The yes box is getting checked.

 

Thanks guys.

Edited September 18 by hplusj

[OldUser 7,010]

5 hours ago, M plus D said:

Sadly, you aren't really updated by the SSA or USCIS about when you are getting the new Social Security Card that you requested through the form(s).

 

This is true

5 hours ago, M plus D said:

Additionally, sometimes USCIS doesn't request the new card for you at all, meaning you won't ever get a new card through the option on the form.

 

 

This is also true

 

[OldUser 7,010]

5 hours ago, M plus D said:

Also, if you at one point do decide that the wait has been enough, you might decide to just request it yourself anyway at the SSA. However, if then suddenly the USCIS requested card does decide to show up eventually, it means you had three cards produced in a short time-frame:

1. Your original, restricted card
2. Your self-requested. unrestricted replacement card
3. Your USCIS-requested. unrestricted replacement card

And you are only allowed to have three Social Security cards assigned to you in a year (and 10 in your lifetime), so that is kind of a waste too.

 

Also, even worse, if you request one through USCIS, it can happen that you get a new, second Social Security number assigned. That's alledgedly also a nightmare scenario...

 

This is a possibility. I'd either request on forms and wait it out or

 

5 hours ago, M plus D said:

I'd recommend just keeping it in your own control and not requesting it on the forms. Then just go to a SSA once you have GC in hand.

 

 

5 hours ago, M plus D said:

 

These days, most people have GC in hand 2 weeks after approval. Then the new Social Security card is another 2 weeks. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a long time.

 

 

This is pretty optimistic. Letters can take 4-6 weeks to be received including GC.

[OldUser 7,010]

28 minutes ago, hplusj said:

We simply wanted to know if it was preferable to request a SSN on the I-485, or not.

@M plus D gave you some good reasons to prefer getting SSN yourself at SSA. There's always margin for error and delays due to multiple agencies working on request (USCIS and SSA). 

 

The ultimate choice is yours. If you applies for EAD you might as well apply for SSN through forms.

 

There's pros and cons to each approach. There is no right or wrong.

Edited September 18 by OldUser

[OldUser 7,010]

37 minutes ago, hplusj said:

If you have first-hand experience with any of these hypothetical "nightmare scenarios", I welcome you to share them.  For now, I'll trust the advice of seasoned veterans on these forums, who've seen this process addressed repeatedly.  The yes box is getting checked.

 

Thanks guys.

Here's example of a person who got 2 SSN due to checking box on DS-260 and applying in person:

 

 

What @M plus D described is possible. I could find some links, I'm sure I've seen reports of this before.

 

You can't deny people get robbed in the streets even if you or your close ones never personally were. Same here. It happens to small percentage of people. Only you can choose your risk tolerance level. You asked about the preferences, and @M plus D gave you their preference. Your preference may be to apply on I-485 form and it's OK too.

 

Edited September 18 by OldUser

[hplusj 142]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Here's example of a person who got 2 SSN due to checking box on DS-260 and applying in person:

 

 

What @M plus D described is possible. I could find some links, I'm sure I've seen reports of this before.

 

You can't deny people get robbed in the streets even if you or your close ones never personally were. Same here. It happens to small percentage of people. Only you can choose your risk tolerance level. You asked about the preferences, and @M plus D gave you their preference. Your preference may be to apply on I-485 form and it's OK too.

 

I understand your need to defend a very thought out answer but again, I just want to know what to check on the form.  Do we really need to weigh the nightmare scenarios over such a simple question?

 

We applied for the card at SSA today, got approved, there is no name change for my *spouse (male).  Can we just get a yes or no on the I-485 and close the thread please, I am utterly exhausted by the supplemental input.  I have enough on my hands right now.

Edited September 18 by hplusj
*future spouse, fiance, whatever too tired for this sh*t

[Lemonslice 4,922]

22 minutes ago, hplusj said:

I understand your need to defend a very thought out answer but again, I just want to know what to check on the form.  Do we really need to weigh the nightmare scenarios over such a simple question?

 

We applied for the card at SSA today, got approved, there is no name change for my *spouse (male).  Can we just get a yes or no on the I-485 and close the thread please, I am utterly exhausted by the supplemental input.  I have enough on my hands right now.

You can do either/or.  Different paths to a very similar result; you check it, you risk A/B/C, but also might benefit from not having to go in person.  You don't check it, then you have to go in person, and risk meeting a bad employee, or a great employee.  Personally, I would just go in person and then be sure the "REQUEST CARD" action has been started.  Then again, the office is half a mile from my place, so the costs (time/money) are minimal. 

[hplusj 142]

1 minute ago, Lemonslice said:

You can do either/or.  Different paths to a very similar result; you check it, you risk A/B/C, but also might benefit from not having to go in person.  You don't check it, then you have to go in person, and risk meeting a bad employee, or a great employee.  Personally, I would just go in person and then be sure the "REQUEST CARD" action has been started.  Then again, the office is half a mile from my place, so the costs (time/money) are minimal. 

The employees at our office absolutely knew what they were doing.

I, however, am another story.  

[TBoneTX 45,661]

Thread is closed at the OP's request.